BlackBerry on Friday updated its BlackBerry Messenger app for iOS with a slew of new features including voice calling, while consumer push notification service Push.co is temporarily offering its own app for no cost to celebrate newly-added IFTTT integration.

BBM

BlackBerry appears to be making a major push to unseat popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Line with a substantial update that adds several new features. Chief among those is voice calling, which allows BBM users to call one another over their handset's data connection free of charge.

The company also added BBM Channels, forum-like chat areas that can be created by users or managed by brands and businesses. In addition, users can now attach pictures, voice notes, and files to messages.

Thursday's update also features Dropbox integration, allowing files to be sent directly from the cloud storage service. New emoticons and the ability to create larger groups also make an appearance.

BBM version 2.0 is available now as a free, 31.5-megabyte download from the App Store.

Push.co

Push.co -- a popular service that allows users to easily create their own private push notification service --?now integrates with IFTTT, or "If This, Then That," a web service that helps users automatically connect different services and devices. For instance, users could configure IFTTT to monitor the weather and trigger a push notification if the UV index passes a certain point.

Push.co is now offering their app, which usually costs $1.99, for free in celebration of the tie-up. The price drop lasts until Feb. 28.

Push.co version 1.30 is available now as a free, 2.3-megabyte download from the App Store.

BlackBerry on Friday updated its BlackBerry Messenger app for iOS with a slew of new features including voice calling, while consumer push notification service Push.co is temporarily offering its own app for no cost to celebrate newly-added IFTTT integration.

BBM

BlackBerry appears to be making a major push to unseat popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Line with a substantial update that adds several new features. Chief among those is voice calling, which allows BBM users to call one another over their handset's data connection free of charge.

The company also added BBM Channels, forum-like chat areas that can be created by users or managed by brands and businesses. In addition, users can now attach pictures, voice notes, and files to messages.

Thursday's update also features Dropbox integration, allowing files to be sent directly from the cloud storage service. New emoticons and the ability to create larger groups also make an appearance.

BBM version 2.0 is available now as a free, 31.5-megabyte download from the App Store.

BlackBerry on Friday updated its BlackBerry Messenger app for iOS with a slew of new features including voice calling,

That dam BB. They push their IOS BBM App, yet they have abandoned their PlayBook software.